MOUNT Gambier City Council continues to build on friendship agreements established with Baotou in Inner Mongolia and Lu’an in the Anhui Province for potential cooperation within the agriculture, innovation and education sectors.
During a 13-day regional business delegation to China in October, the focus shifted from product export and distribution to include the delivery of services, including sheep and cattle genetics, livestock and fodder management, dairy training, technology transfer, premium food distribution and education.
The delegation was supported by Regional Development Australia (RDA) and the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA), representing the seven regional councils.
Led by City Council chief executive Mark McShane and manager for investment attraction and international engagement Bruce Rodda, the delegation included agriculturalists and mixed farming property owners George Beck and Sam Croser, sheep geneticist Colin Earl, Bully’s Meat chief executive Chris Bullen, Tenison Woods College international student coordinator Annie Clifford and enrolment registrar Tracey Davey.
“The China Engagement Strategy is working for us and we’re gaining traction,” Mr Rodda said.
“We have been recruiting a ‘coalition of the willing’ throughout the region who are using the bridge that we have built with our Friendship City relations that are continuing to strengthen.
“Baotou and Lu’an have got the message that we are there to do business.”
In a major coup, Keppel Logistics, one of the largest warehouse managers in the world, has offered to act as an agent and broker for Limestone Coast businesses to get their products into its major distribution centre in Lu’an.
“An arrangement that assists with the reduction in import duty in line with the CHAFTA treaty and acts as a highly credible clearing agency will provide confidence for our local red meat producers to venture into the Lu’an region,” Mr Rodda said.
“The next step will start talking to our local red meat producers and abattoirs that have an interest in the China market.
“One local Lu’an meat wholesaler imports 40 containers per year and expressed interest in looking to Australian beef as an option for at least half these imports.”
Mr Rodda indicated there will be inbound delegations from Baotou and Lu’an to Mount Gambier in the coming months.
